Aldershot Town (Tuesday, September 17)

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17 2013

ALDERSHOT TOWN 3 BARNET 3

HAVING spent my Sunday and Monday as usual studying The Non-League Paper, the front page headline of ‘AWOL Edgar’ sticks in my mind as I enter the ground – especially with the rain coming down by the bucket load.

The weather’s so rotten you could forgive the Barnet manager giving it a miss!

Although the match was a classic, it was a mixed trip. I pay a very high £19 to get in and take shelter in the newly-erected Community Stand at the High Street end of the ground.

After buying a golden goal ticket from the chirpy chap with the tupperware box I go to the hut and purchase a programme. Although I will rarely agree with clubs charging £3, it’s a great read. But my total spend is growing.

The main bar, tucked away in the rustic main stand is superb. Friendly and welcoming plus there’s a few editions of The Non-League Paper floating about…and I have time to kill!

I’m nearly £35 down after a visit to the burger van. And there’s another victim of the weather – the salt shaker! It’s crusted over in the rain, and the hot dog’s not the best but I’m too hungry to complain.

I pop my head around the press entrance and manage to blag myself a teamsheet. Sadly Edgar remains only a manager.
The ground itself is a beauty. This is tradition personified and, personally, I’m glad Aldershot are back in Non-League. It oozes character and history in every stand. A leaky roof where a lot of Shots fans are congregating in the North Stand doesn’t dampen their spirits.

Things are looking up until I visit the toilets just behind the main stand. Now, I’m no clean freak but the cardinal sin of no soap to wash your hands with is a frustration. How hard is it!?

As kick-off approaches I warn my friend that I’m due a 0-0. Surely the number of goals I have been lucky enough to see hit the back of the net so far this season can’t continue…. but they do!

Indeed I only have to wait a little over two minutes for the first, courtesy of Brett Williams, but the rest of the first half, played in torrential rain, lacks any real quality. Thankfully though, the second doesn’t.

Davids, now bellowing instructions from the sidelines when he was inconspicuous in the first half, has clearly got his men fired up for the second half and Curtis Weston lobs the home keeper to make it 1-1.

But against the run of play, Aldershot are ahead once again as lively Manny Oyeleke scores.

The Barnet keeper then gift wraps a third goal to the grateful Williams but the Bees aren’t done yet and score two goals in the last 12 minutes to take a well-earned point.

Mr Davids – like myself – is glad he came!

Ticket value 2, Programme 4, Food 2, Bar 4, Toilets 1, Atmosphere 3, Match 5, Overall: 3